Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => General Fishkeeping advice => Topic started by: trevor on March 03, 2018, 04:42:03 PM

Title: Brown Algae
Post by: trevor on March 03, 2018, 04:42:03 PM
Hi all, First post so here go's.
Decided to get back into fish keeping in April 2016 and for a year had no problems with Algae but then the dreaded brown one appeared.

Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 20-40 (tap water has 20).

kept on cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning with no success. I was at the point of giving in and selling up but decided to buy a bag of API Prevent Algae Powder size 5. Placed this into my 64Ltr tank in a separate small filter.
Bingo, no more brown Algae. Packet says replace after 4 weeks but was still working after 18.
I have no live plants only silk ones.
Title: Re: Brown Algae
Post by: Sue on March 03, 2018, 05:01:55 PM
I know that ammonia and lights are the usual cause of brown algae, the kind that grows on rocks etc and can be wiped off. But I think phosphate is also implicated in algae growth.


Aha! I just googled the product, and yes, it says it is a phosphate removing medium  ;D You may find one day that the algae comes back - that's when you need to replace this product.
Title: Re: Brown Algae
Post by: trevor on March 03, 2018, 05:23:05 PM
There was no sign of any algae at 18 weeks but changed it anyway.

Hope this info helps others because hobby's are meant to be a pleasure and not a pain.

ps: i keep my silk plants clean with baby bottle sterilizer. In a bucket for 24 hours, no need to scrub.
     Rince well before placing back into tank
Title: Re: Brown Algae
Post by: Sue on March 03, 2018, 05:28:19 PM
Babies bottle steriliser is great for fish tanks - hypochlorite bleach with no perfume, detergents etc. Just make sure it's all rinsed out, or soak the plants in dechorinated water to make sure.